Punching press



June27,1939. F L 2,163,641

PUNCHING PRES S I Filed April 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3//4 J0 d o ////6 53 5 5/ Fig.1 l' fa #W Wm ATTORNEYS .6. F. WALES PUNCHING PRESS June 27, 1939.

Filed April 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented June 21 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,163,041 PUNCHING mass George F. Wales. Kenmore, N. Y. Application April 25, 1938, Serial No. 203,997 Claims. (c1. 164-90) This invention relates to a punching press or apparatus for perforating sheet material, angles, Z-bars, T's and shaped sections similar to those used in aeronautical fabrication, which apparatus is intended to be used more particularly in press brakes although the same may be used in stamping and similar presses or presses especially designed for some special work.

The chief purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustable perforating apparatus for presses having a high type die so that there will be sufficient clearance for punching holes in angles, Z-bars and other formed sections of materials.

A further object is to provide a rail on which the die holders of the'perforating apparatus are mounted together with means for attaching the holders to said rail, to permit a .quick adjustment of the holders on said rail and provide clearance in the rail for removal of the slugs which are punched out of the-workpiece.

A further object is to provide a rail equipped with a conveyor belt mounted directly on said rail, for removal of the slugs from underneath perforating units when the apparatus is used on a press having a solid bed.

A further object is to provide the shoes of a plurality of die and punch holders with calibrated means for locating the several holders in proper relation to each other, together with a g'age'bar having proper markings for making accurate adjustments of holders.

A further object is to provide a punch member which can be readily removed from its position in the punch guide and can be replaced into the guide, without the stripper spring in position, so that the punch will project through the bottom of the guide, thus permitting the end of said punch to be .used as a locating means for adjustment of the die and punch holder when using a template for locating perforating units in proper relation to each other. I

A further object is to provide an improved punch, punchguide, and stripper spring which can be readily removed from the holder without disturbing any other part of the set up.

Another feature of this invention is an improved adjustable back gage combined as a unit with the holder.

Another feature of this invention is the prov ard punching press, press brake or similar mavision of an improved lifter spring for raising the punch guide a suitable distance upward from the die to permit insertion of the parts to be perforated.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section of a press brake containing an approved form of adjustable perforatingmechanism embodying my invention and showing the same operating on a Z-bar having a web at right angles to its flanges.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of this press brake showing the same operating on a Z-bar having a web which inclines relative to its flanges.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the manner of locating the punch and die assemblages by means of a template.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the template used for setting up the perforating units.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of rail shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rail shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation partly broken away. of the rail provided with an opening in its center for the removal of slugs.

Fig. 8 is an end elevation partly in section, showing a modified form of the bed, rail, holder and slug removing means embodying this invention.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the lower part of the holder shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation of the rail shown in Fig. 8 together with the conveyor belt mechanism thereon.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottom view of the same. a

Fig. 12 is a front elevation partly in section of the entire rail with the conveyor belt mechanism for removing slugs.

Fig. 13'is a plan view of rail shown in Figs. 8 and 12.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicatelike parts in the several figures of the drawings. v

Although this invention is capable of use in various installations, the same is shown in the present case in connection with a type of press commonly known as a press brake. It is obvious that the holders, rails, and punching mech- ,anism described in the drawings may be used mainframe 9 of the press and provided with a longitudinal opening llli extending downwardlylfrom the top of the bed, and an upper ram HE which is guided upon the upper part of this main frame and movable vertically toward and from the bed. 6

In the space between this bed and the ram of the press the perforating apparatus embodying my improvements is arranged and adapted to be operated by the movement of the ram toward the bed for the purpose of punching holes in the material or workpiece 40 fed into the perforating mechanism. The particular organization of my invention which is shown in Figs. 1'7 of the drawings is constructed as follows:

Upon the bed of the main frame is supported a rail which, in the construction shown in Figs.

1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, comprises rear and front longitudinal rail members or sections l2, M which are spaced apart to form between them a longitudinal opening or slot 55 extending from the upper side to the underside of the rail and registering with the longitudinal slot or opening lili in the bed of the frame, as best shown in Fi 1. The two sections of the rail are connected with each other at intervals by transverse tie bars l3 the lower parts of which project below the underside of the rail sections and into the upper part of the opening or slot lfli in the bed and thus hold the rail against lateral displacement on the bed. Various means may be employed for securing the rail to the bed, for example a suitable number of clamping screws, such as that shown at 53 in Figs. 1 and 2, working in the front part of the bed and bearing against the adjacent tie bars of the rail.

The numeral l5 represents one of the holders whereby the operating parts of one of the units of the perforating means of my invention are supported and which includes a lower. base or shoe NH and an upper head or horn I52. The bottom surface of the holder base I5l has a groove I! which fits over a tongue 56 on the rail l2.. This tongue is divided, one part being formed on the rear rail section l2 and the other on the front rail section It and when the groove ll of a holder receives these tongue sections the base or shoe l5! of the holder extends over the opening 55 in the rail, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The holder is capable of being moved lengthwise on the rail into the desired position to suit the location of the hole which is to be'punched into the workpiece by the punching mechanism on the respective holder, and after such adjustment the holder may beheld iniplace on the rail by clamping means which preferably consist of a screw 24 arranged vertically in the front part of the shoe or base of the respective holder and engaging a square nut 25 arranged in a T-slot 26 formed lengthwise in the front part curately, each holder is provided with a groove I9 on the top angular or inclined surface 20 formed on the front part of the lower base of the holder, said groove i 9 receiving 'part of a horibar. Each holder is then looked in position on the rail by its clamping device 24, 25.

In the inner part of the base of the holder l5 the same is provided with an upwardly opening socket 21 which is preferably of cylindrical form and terminates at its lower end in a seat or shoulder 28 and in this seat is arranged a high perforating die l6 which rests at its lower end on the shoulder 28 and has its upper end projecting high above the upper side of base of holder i 5, as shown at Fig. 1. A cylindrical opening 29 is provided directly underneath the die shoulder 28 similar in size to the die opening 30 and in line with the opening 55 in the rail and the opening Illl in the bed, thereby allowing the punched out slugs to fall freely through the press or to be disposed of otherwise.

The upper side of each tie bar l3-is preferably provided with an inclined surface which,

will deflect any slugs engaging the same and thus prevent any slugs from resting on these tie bars and clogging the machine. Each-of these deflecting surfaces is preferably of A-shape so that the same slopes from the center of the top of the respective tie bar toward opposite sides of the same, as shown at 54 in Figs. 6 and 7.

In the inner part of the upper head or horn I52 of the holder is provided a vertical guideway 3| of circular form which is axially in line with the opening 21 of the holder I5 and the die l6 mounted therein. Within this guide opening 3| is arranged a punching unit which is so organized that the same is capable of sliding vertically in this opening toward and from the die i6 and adapting same to upper surfaces of the workpiece which is being punched and also to permit of driving thepunching element downwardly through the workpiece and into the die and also to enable this punching device to be removed as a unit from the head of the holder and replaced by one having a different size of punch, The particular organization of this punching device as shown in Fig. 1 is constructed as follows:

The numeral 32 represents a tubular punch guide which is preferably cylindrical in shape and has an upper collar or head 34 and a lower reduced body 33 which slides in the guide opening 3|. Within the punch guide is arranged the punch which has an upper cylindrical body 35 sliding vertically therein. The lower end 38 of the punch forming the bit thereof may, in the smaller sizes of punches, be reduced in diameter and moved through a reduced guide opening 4| in the lower end of the punch guide while the upper end of the punch has an enlarged head or anvil 38. The upper part of the punch 35 is surrounded by a helical spring 39 which bears with its lower end against the upper side of the head 34 of the punch guide 32, while its upper end bears against the underside of the punch head 38. This spring 39 tends to lift the punch relative to the punch guide and also serves to withdraw or strip the punch from the workpiece 40 after a hole has been punched into the same. The upward movement of the punch away from the punch guide is limited by the free lengthof spring 38.

This punching unit is capable of floating readily within the guide opening 3|. in the head or horn of the holder. When thepress is not in operation the punch guide 32 is held up so that its lower end 3'! is separated by an intervening. gap 52 from the top surface of the die ii to allow insertion of the workpiece. This lifting action is produced on the punch guide bymeans of a light lifter spring 42 which is of leaf shape and secured at one ,end to the top of the holder with screw 43 and engaged with its other end underneath the head 34 of the punch guide.

The spring 42 is comparatively light and only of sufllcient strength to hold the entire punching unit inits elevated position when the press is not in use and thereby retain the underside 31 of the guide 32 slightly above the top surface of the die It so as to permit free introduction and removal of the workpieces 40. The punch is per mitted to move vertically the requisite extent in this punch guide during the operation of the press but is prevented from being wholly withdrawn from the-punch guide by a stop screw 44 arranged on the punch guide and projecting into a longitudinal groove 45 in the punch so that the lower end of this groovewill be engaged by the screw in the uppermost position of the punch, as shown in Fig. 1.

As a means of properly locating the workpiece with reference to the punching mechanism a sage rod 48 is provided which in this instance is a round bar having a chisel shaped point 41 at its front end. Adjustment of gage rod 46 is made by the same horizontally in bored hole 48 in-the upper rear portion of the holder I5, said age rodbeing locked in position by a screw 49 arranged on the holder.

For the purpose of properly locating the perforating devices. as shown in Fig. 2, with reference to each other so as to bring the dies and punches of the same into the proper position and proper'hole diameter for punching the holes in a sheet in accordance with a predetermined order, a template 50 shown in Fig. 4 is employed which is provided with a plurality of pilot perforations ii corresponding to the location and diameter of the holes which are to be formed in the parts of metal whichv are to be perforated.

' These pilot perforations are of the same size as those to be perforated in sheet metal parts;

In using this template 50 the same is introduced into the gaps 52 of the several holders and the screw 44 of each punch guide backed outwardly to permit removal of respective punch and also the respective stripper spring 39. Thereafter the punch is inserted into the punch guide, the lower end 36 of the punch passed through pilot perforation 5| to the template 50 into opening of the die It thereby accurately holding the perforating devices in the proper position preparatory to tightening the same to the rail which supports said perforating devices. v

After the holders of the several perforating devices have been thus definitely located by the template 50 the holders are fastened in position on the rail by tightening bolts 24. The template 50 is now withdrawn from the holders and the stripper springs 39 are replaced into their former position.

When perforation units are to be used on a press or press brake having a solid bed I00 the means for removing the slugs from underneath perforating units are modified in accordance with the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

and 13.

In these figures the ,numeral 51 represents the rail which is provided on its upper side with a longitudinal groove and on its underside with a longitudinal groove 59 anda T slot 26 on the front part of the top face of the rail. At one end of the rail is mounted a roller 60 which turns on a pin 6i and onthe opposite-end of the rail 51 is mounted a driving wheel 62 which is keyed to a shaft 83 having a handle 64. for turning the same.

This shaft is held to the rail by journaling the same in bearing blocks 65' secured to this rail. An endless conveyor belt 12 is mounted on the rail so as to form an upper stretch which is arranged in the upper groove 68 and a lower stretch which is'arranged in the lower groove of the rail while the turns at opposite ends of these stretches pass around the supporting roller 60 and the driving roller or wheel 62. Located on each side of the wheel 62 are the arms 66 which have holes at each end,one-end fitting over the adjacent end of the shaft 63 and the other end fitting over one end of the idler shaft 61 on which is placed an idler takeup or tension roll 88. The idler roll .68 is held against the conveyor belt for keeping the latter tight on the wheel 62 by springs 69 whichare fastened to opposite ends of the shaft 61 and pass through holes 10 in the end of the rail 51 and held'in position on the rail by the pins ll.

When the rail with the conveyor belt is used for removal of slugs from underneath perforating units, a holder with a tongue l8 projecting from the bottom, as shown in Fig. 9, is used.

The perforating deviceis located on the rail 51 by means of the tongue l8 formed on the bottom of the holder and fitting snugly into the groove 58 on top of the rail 51, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby retaining each in the proper position so that the be in the proper relation to the vertical center line of the respective punching mechanisms and to each other. The front edge of the rail 51 is provided with a T-slot 26 which permits the holder of each of the perforating devices to be locked in position by means of a screw24 passing through the front end of the holder into the square nut 25 in this T-slot 26.

During the punching operation the slugs forced through the die fall on the conveyor belt 12 which is moved at intervals for the disposal of the slugs by rotating the driving wheel 62 by turning the handle 65 in the direction as indicated by the arrow 13. Turning of the handle 65 causes the conveyor belt to move underneath the several holders so as to catch the slugs therefrom and the latter are then discharged at the end of the rail. At this point a receptacle can be placed for receiving slugs and keeping them from-scattering.

The punching press is more particularly intended for perforating workpieces which are of irregular shape in cross section and require high dies in order to accommodate them, but this press may also be used to advantage in perforating workpieces of sheet form or other simple shapes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A punching press comprising a rail, a holder slidable lengthwise on said rail, said holder and rail being provided with cooperating surfaces which permit said holder to slide lengthwise of {including a clamping bolt mounted on the front TSartof said holder and having a nut seated in a T-slot in said rail.

2. A punching press comprising a horizontal rail having two longitudinal members which are spaced apart to form a slot between them extending from the upper to the underside of the rail and a plurality of transverse tie bars connecting said rail members at intervals, a holder secured to the upper side of said rail, each oi?- said tie bars projecting downwardly below the underside of said rail members, a bed provided with a longitudinal slot which receives the lower parts of said tie bars, and die and punch members qnounted on the lower and upper parts of said holder and adapted to discharge the slugs punched from the workpiece into said slot.

3. A punching press comprising a horizontal rail having two longitudinal members which are spaced apart to form a slot between them ex tending from the upper to the underside of the rail and a plurality of transverse tie bars connecting said rail members at intervals, a holder secured to the upper side of said rail, each of said tie bars projecting downwardly below the under- 2 side of said rail members, a bed provided with a longitudinalslot which receives, the lower parts of said tie bars, clamping screws arranged on the bed and engaging with the lower parts of said tie bars, and die and punch members mounted on the lower and upper parts of said holder and adapted to discharge the slugs punched from the workpiece into said slot.

4. A punching press comprising a rail, a plurality of holders arranged in a longitudinal row on said rail and adjustable lengthwise thereon. cooperating die and punch members mounted on each of said holders, and means for locating said holders relatively to each other including a longitudinal bar engaging grooves in corresponding parts of the several holders and provided with locating marks adapted to register with locating marks on said holders. 5. A punching press comprising a rail, a plu rality of holders arranged in a longitudinal row on said rail and adjustable lengthwise thereon, cooperating die and punch members mounted on each of said holders, and means for locating said holders relatively to each other, including a longitudinal bar engaging grooves in corresponding parts of the several holders and provided with locating marks adapted to register with locating marks on said holders, said grooves being formed in inclined surfaces on the lower front parts or said holders.

6. A punching press comprising a rail, a holder mounted on the rail, cooperating die and punch membersmounted on said holder, and means for discharging the slugs punched from the workpiece including an endless conveyor belt having an upper stretch arranged in a longitudinal groove in the upper side of the rail and below said die and a lower stretch arranged in a longitudinal groove on the underside of the rail, an idler roll mounted on one end of the rail and receiving one turn of said belt, and a driving wheel mounted on the other end of said rail and receiving the other turn of said belt.

'7. A punching press comprising a rail, a holder mounted on the rail, cooperating die and punch members mounted on said holder, and means for discharging the slugs punched from the workpiece including an endless conveyor belt having an upper stretch arranged in a longitudinal groove in the upper side of the rail and below said die and a lower stretch arranged in a longitudinal groove on the underside oi the rail, an idler roll mounted on one end of the rail and receiving one turn oi! said belt, a driving wheel mounted on the other end of said rail and receiving the other turn of said belt, a crank connected with said driving wheel, and a spring pressed take-up roll bearing against the lows belt.

stretch of said conveyor GEORGE F. WALES. 

